Wind Power in Michigan

The table displayed below lists the wind power projects that are developments that are either already in commissioned status and are operating, are currently being constructed or have been planned. All efforts are being made to keep the page updated with the latest developments and new information as it becomes available.

Where possible links have been provided for each project to provide further information, simply click on the project name you are interested in. The table is sortable based on columns so if you want to find read the table based on the status of the projects, simply click on the arrows above the Status column.

So, at the time of writing we have identified projects that account for 792MW of utility scale wind power currently being generated in the state and a further 1,325 MW from projects that are either planned or under construction.

Estimations on Wind Potential for Michigan

According to the 50-Meter Wind Map produced by the Department of Energy (shown on the right), Michigan has wind resources that are consistent with community-scale production. The map shows that the land-based community-scale wind resources in Michigan are concentrated along the immediate shores of the Great Lakes (especially Lakes Michigan and Superior) and on islands. The Great Lakes themselves have good-to-outstanding wind resource. A large area of Class 3 resource is located northeast of Saginaw on the “thumb” of the state.

As far as the utility-scale land based wind power potential is concerned the readings are taken at 80 meters and it is accepted that annual average wind speeds of around 6.5 meters per second and greater at 80-meter height are considered to have a resource suitable for wind development.

The state of Michigan has an estimated 7.85% (or 11,808 square kilometers) of land area available for utility scale wind power development.

According to the latest figures released it has been estimated that Michigan has the potential for an estimated 59,042.3MW of installed capacity which could generate 169,221 GWh annually.